Razor handle having a retractable razor head carrier and a movable flap, and razor having such a handle

Abstract

A razor handle that includes an elongated hollow housing having an opening provided on the front end, a razor head carrier which is slidably mounted in the recess between a first non-shaving position in which the razor head carrier is retracted and completely located inside the recess, a second shaving position, and a sliding mechanism for moving the razor head carrier. The razor handle further includes a pivotally mounted movable flap having a closed position in which the flap closes the opening, and an open position in which the flap is fully open and gives way to the razor head carrier, the movable flap being driven by a linkage.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A razor handle comprising:
 a hollow elongate housing having a front end and a back end opposite to the front end, the housing further comprising an opening provided at the front end, 
 a razor head carrier which is slidably mounted in the housing between: 
 a first, non-shaving position in which the razor head carrier is retracted inside the housing, and 
 a second, shaving position in which the razor head carrier is extended towards the opening of the housing, 
 a sliding mechanism provided on the housing for moving the razor head carrier between the first position and the second position, and 
 a single movable flap movably mounted between a closed position in which the flap closes the opening, and an open position in which the opening is open, wherein the movable flap is driven back and forth by the razor head carrier between the closed and open positions, so that the movable flap is in the closed position when the razor head carrier is in the first position and the movable flap is in the open position when the razor head carrier is in the second position, 
 wherein the movable flap is pivotally mounted around a swiveling axis, and the razor handle further comprises a single-part linkage controlling the movable flap and the linkage being controlled by the razor head carrier, wherein the linkage is movable with the razor head carrier and is attached with a pivot connection to the movable flap, 
 wherein the razor head carrier comprises a control profile, and wherein the housing comprises at least one complementary control profile, the control profile and the complementary control profile cooperating with the linkage by pushing and pulling the linkage, 
 wherein the control profile comprises a recess having a stop face and the complementary control profile comprises a slide portion and a complementary recess having a ramp, the razor head carrier being able to slide along a stroke, comprising at least a first stroke portion in which the center portion of the linkage is located in the recess and driven by the razor head carrier along the slide portion, and a second stroke portion in which the center portion of the linkage is located in the complementary recess and is not moving relative to the housing, while the razor head carrier is sliding. 
 
     
     
       2. The razor handle according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing has at least two recesses defining the swiveling axis, and the movable flap has at least two protruding pins received respectively in the recesses. 
     
     
       3. The razor handle according to  claim 2 , wherein the linkage comprises an elongated U-shaped wire having a center portion and at least two lateral arms, the movable flap having at least two symmetrically opposed holes receiving the respective ends of the arms. 
     
     
       4. The razor handle according to  claim 1 , wherein when the razor head carrier is moved from the first stroke portion to the second stroke portion, the center portion of the linkage is released from the recess in the complementary recess, and wherein when the razor head carrier is moved from the second stroke portion to the first stroke portion, the center portion of the linkage is moved by the stop face along the ramp from the complementary recess to the recess. 
     
     
       5. The razor handle according to  claim 1 , wherein the first stroke portion of the razor head carrier is less than thirty percent of the total razor head carrier stroke. 
     
     
       6. The razor handle according to  claim 1 , wherein the sliding mechanism comprises a locking mechanism adapted to selectively lock the razor head carrier relative to the housing and let the razor head carrier freely slide relative to the housing. 
     
     
       7. The razor handle according to  claim 6 , wherein the locking mechanism is controlled by a release knob. 
     
     
       8. The razor handle according to  claim 1 , further comprising a razor head attachment unit, having lateral protrusions extending from the attachment unit. 
     
     
       9. A razor comprising a handle according to  claim 1 , and a razor head connected to the razor head carrier. 
     
     
       10. The razor according to  claim 9 , wherein the razor head is mounted on the razor head carrier so that when the razor head carrier is in the first position, the razor head is completely located inside the housing behind the movable flap, and when the razor head carrier is in the second position, the razor head extends outside the razor handle. 
     
     
       11. The razor according to  claim 9 , wherein the razor head comprises hooks, and wherein the razor handle comprises a razor head attachment unit, having lateral protrusions extending from the attachment unit, the lateral protrusions partially covering the razor head hooks.